Jo Lual-Acuil

Joseph Lual-Acuil Jr. (born 26 April 1994) is a South Sudanese Australian professional basketball player for Melbourne United of the National Basketball League (NBL). He played college basketball for Neosho County Community College and Baylor University.

Jo Lual-Acuil
Lual-Acuil with Baylor in February 2017
No. 0 – Melbourne United
PositionCenter
LeagueNBL
Personal information
Born (1994-04-26) 26 April 1994
Wau, Sudan
(now South Sudan)
NationalityAustralian / South Sudanese
Listed height7 ft 0 in (2.13 m)
Listed weight225 lb (102 kg)
Career information
High schoolKingsway Christian College
(Perth, Western Australia)
College
NBA draft2018 / Undrafted
Playing career2018–present
Career history
2018–2019Hapoel Jerusalem
2019→Hapoel Galil Elyon
2019–presentMelbourne United
Career highlights and awards
  • Third-team All-Big 12 (2018)
  • Big 12 All-Defensive Team (2017)
  • Big 12 All-Newcomer Team (2017)

Early life

Lual-Acuil was born in Wau, South Sudan. Lual-Acuil lived his first six years in South Sudan before moving to Melbourne, Australia. Lual-Acuil attended Kingsway Christian College in Perth, Western Australia.[1] He was a soccer player growing up, but picked up the game of basketball after his soccer coach suggested he play for the team one year.[2]

College career

Neosho County CC (2013–2015)

Lual-Acuil played two seasons for Neosho County Community College. In his sophomore year at Neosho County, he averaged 20.1 points, 11.2 rebounds and 4.7 blocks while playing all 30 games. He was named 2015 Jayhawk Conference Defensive Player of the Year and earned a spot in the All-Conference First Team and All-Region First Team.[1]

Baylor (2016–2018)

Lual-Acuil joined Baylor University in the summer of 2015, but sat out his first season for a heart condition.[3] In his year off, Lual-Acuil focused on improving his fitness and strength.

In his junior year, Lual-Acuil was named Big 12 Newcomer of the Week for games played from 12 December through 18 December.[4] In 35 games played during the 2016–17 season, Lual-Acuil averaged 9.1 points, 6.7 rebounds and 2.5 blocks per game and helped the Bears to a 3 seed in the NCAA Tournament.[2] On 5 March 2017, Lual-Acuil earned a spot in the 2017 Big 12 All-Defensive Team and All-Newcomer Team.[5]

On 17 December 2017, Lual-Acuil recorded a double-double and college career-highs of 31 points and 20 rebounds, shooting 10-of-15 from the field, along with three blocks and two assists in a 118–86 blowout win over Savannah State.[6] Lual-Acuil finished his senior year averaging 14 points, 8.6 rebounds and 1.9 blocks per game. On 8 March 2018, Lual-Acuil earned a spot in the 2018 All-Big 12 Third Team.[7] He graduated with a degree in Health Studies and Kinesiology.[2]

Professional career

2018–19 season

On 13 August 2018, Lual-Acuil started his professional career with Hapoel Jerusalem of the Israeli Premier League, signing a three-year deal.[8] On 6 February 2019, Lual-Acuil agreed terms to join the Hungarian team Atomerőmű SE,[9] but eventually the deal fell through.[10]

On 10 February 2019, Lual-Acuil was loaned to Hapoel Galil Elyon of the Israeli National League for the rest of the season.[10] On 5 March 2019, Lual-Acuil recorded a season-high 27 points in his fourth game with Galil Elyon, shooting 11-of-17 from the field, along with eleven rebounds and three blocks in an 86–65 win over Hapoel Kfar Saba.[11] In 19 games played for Galil Elyon, he led the league in blocks with 2.3 per game, while averaging 16.6 points and 10.5 rebounds per game. Lual-Acuil helped Galil Elyon reach the league finals, where they eventually were defeated by Maccabi Haifa.

2019–20 season

On 20 August 2019, Lual-Acuil signed with Melbourne United in Australia for the 2019–20 NBL season.[12]

Personal life

Lual-Acuil's father, Joseph, was South Sudan's first Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Disaster Management.[1]

References
  1. "Jo Lual-Acuil Jr. – Baylor University". BaylorBears.com. Retrieved 13 August 2018.
  2. Tyler, Chris (25 February 2018). "Australian big man Lual-Acuil helped resurrect the Baylor Bears". ESPN. Retrieved 13 August 2018.
  3. "Baylor center Acuil sidelined 8 weeks with potential heart issues". wacotrib.com. 16 October 2015. Retrieved 13 August 2018.
  4. "Mitrou-Long, Lual-Acuil Gather Early Holiday Honors". big12sports.com. 19 December 2016. Retrieved 13 August 2018.
  5. "Three Teams Lead Men's Basketball Awards". big12sports.com. 5 March 2017. Retrieved 13 August 2018.
  6. "Lual-Acuil 30/20 Game Leads MBB Past Savannah State". BaylorBears.com. 17 December 2017. Retrieved 13 August 2018.
  7. "Three Baylor basketball players given Big 12 honors". dallasnews.com. 8 March 2018. Retrieved 13 August 2018.
  8. "Hapoel Jerusalem signs rookie Joseph Lual-Acuil Jr to a multi-year deal". Sportando.basketball. 13 August 2018. Retrieved 13 August 2018.
  9. "Hivatalos: Jo Lual-Acuil az ASE új centere". kezdo5.hu (in Hungarian). 6 February 2019. Retrieved 6 February 2019.
  10. "לואל אצ'ויל הושאל לגליל העליון". IsraelHayom.co.il (in Hebrew). 10 February 2019. Retrieved 11 February 2019.
  11. "הפועל כפר סבא שלום 65 – 86 הפועל גליל עליון צפת". ibasketball.co.il (in Hebrew). 5 March 2019. Retrieved 25 May 2019.
  12. "United Complete Roster with Jo Lual-Acuil Jr". NBL.com.au. 20 August 2019. Retrieved 20 August 2019.
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